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Steel Dynamics Inc Death

Posted by: Steve Wagner
April 28, 2009
Topic: Worker's Compensation

Cory G. Cochlin, Columbia City, Indiana, died after being run over by a large vehicle that transports slag from the plant at Steel Dynamics, Inc. Whitley County Coroner Scott A. Smith revealed that Cochlin died of "massive blunt-force trauma."

Unfortunately, this was not the first time a Steel Dynamics, Inc. employee has died while working. In 2006, James K. Hall died from asphyxiation after two 3-ton steel beams fell on his chest. For that incident, Steel Dynamics, Inc. was cited by Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a "serious" violation.

Under Indiana Worker's Compensation law, an injured party or his or her surviving spouse cannot sue the employer even if the employer's carelessness caused the injury. Instead, worker's compensation benefits are the worker's only remedy. Many people think this rule should be changed so that unsafe companies would have more of an incentive to keep the workplace safe. As the law stands now, Steel Dynamics could face an OSHA fine (as it did before) if there was an unsafe condition which contributed to this accident. However, Steel Dynamics will not have any civil liability other than worker's compensation death benefits.


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